Pretoria. 83 



the Transvaal CTOverninent allow this road to be 

 niaintamed m a condition as bad, if not worse, 

 than that of any other highway communication in 

 the country. Pretoria lies some iive-and-thirty 

 miles to the north of Johannesburg. Round 

 Pretoria the veldt becomes more broken, and the 

 eye is pleased at having its range of vision inter- 

 rupted by low chains of hills, among which are 

 seen pretty dells and valleys and streams, and 

 some appreciable appearance of tree and bush. 

 Fifteen hundred feet less than Johannesburii" 



o 



above the level of the sea, lying in a sheltered 

 hollow, Pretoria, in respect of climate, is far 

 milder and more genial than the high ridges 

 of the gold-helds. The soil of Pretoria is of 

 wonderful fertility lor the cultivation of vegetables, 

 flowers, and trees. Nearly every house has its 

 garden, and every garden possesses a plentiful 

 of water. The white population numbers under 

 6000, and it is estimated that some 6000 natives 

 also inhabit the to'WTi. It bears all the appear- 

 ance of a town in its infancy, low straggling 

 cottages and shanty residences adjoining stone and 

 brick buildings of imposing size. The Govern- 

 ment buildings, Avhicli are approaching com- 

 pletion, erected in a French style of architecture, 

 are distinctly tine and good. They have been 

 built at a cost of about 200,000/. They accom- 

 modate all the Government offices and the 

 two Chambers of the Volksraad. I was 

 present at one of the sittings of the Dutch 

 Parliament, and observed a combination of pomp 



G 2 



